Device for use with telephones



April 26, 1927. C B KINKEAD DEVICE FOR USE WITH TELEPHONES 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed June '7 1925 V C. B. KINKEAD DEVICE FOR USE WITH TELEPHONES Filed .June *7, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jil Patented Apr. 26, 192?.

llNliED "STATES PATENT tries.

DEVICE FOR USE WITH TELEPHONES.

Application filed June 7,

My present invention relates to an attachment for telephone mouthpieces adapted to contain an antiseptic material for the purpose of sterilizing the said mouthpieces.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of an antiseptic holder which will normally lie in proximity to the mouthpiece when the phone is not in use, but which may be either automatically or manually moved from suchproximity when it is desired to use the phone.

To this end my invention includes in one form a clamp member adapted to be attached to the telephone standard and having an arm to which the antiseptic container may be attached so as to hang in front of the telephone mouthpiece. By a series of levers this arm may be manually raised from its position so that the phone may be used.

In another form the invention includes a cabinet adapted to locate a telephone therein, and having a drop front which operates an arm mounted on the side of the cabinet and carrying an antiseptic container, into and out of proximity to the telephone mouthpiece. I

The invention further consists in the novel arrangement, combination and construction of parts hereinafter described and with ref erence to the accompanying drawings, in which: 1

Fig. 1 is a side view of one embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2- is a side view of the device of Fig. 1 with the front open.

Fig. 3 is arear view of Fig. 1.

Fig. et is a perspective of the container moving mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a side view of a modified form of. p

' catmg block 18 cut out as at 19 to fit the device.

Fig. 6 is a side view of the device of Fig. 5 with the front open.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a side view of a telephone equipped with my invention.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a detail of the container.

In one form of the invention a telephone base is shown generally at 1 having a stand aid 2 and a mouthpiece 3. Attached to the neck of the standard is a clamp member 4 having a pivot at 5 and having a downwardly extending handle 6 preferably of curved form so as to neatly hug the standard 2. Means to temporarily lock the han- 1926. Serial No. 114,261.

dle to the standard is shown to consist of a spring clip 7 engageable With the standard. The upper portion of the handle 6 has a backwardly and upwardly extending portion 8 pivoted as at 9 to a short lever portion'lO of a curved arm 11 which carries at it upper end an antiseptic container 12. This arm is pivoted to the clamp 4 between pivots 5 and 9.' This arm pivot is indicated at 13.

It will be noted that handle 6 is movable about its pivot 5 away from or to hug the standard 2. Such action by reason of the pivotal connections, will lower or raise the antiseptic container into or out of proximity to the mouthpiece.

The container 12 may be composed "of a, perforated box 14- containing an absorbent 15 soaked in any desirable volatile antiseptic and covered by a screw cap 16.

lVhen the phone is not in use, the handle 6 V will normally occupy a position away from the standard 2, in which position the container 12 will lie adjacent the mouthpiece 2, so that the volatile antiseptic may permeate the atmosphere adjacent the mouthpiece and thereby sterilize the same.

In using the phone, the handle and standard are grasped simultaneously, moving the handle 6 about its pivot, which lifts conainer 12 above the mouthpiece so that it does not interfere with the use of the phone. The Weight of the container is such that upon releasing the grip upon handle and standard, the parts will automatically adjust themselves to the sterilizing position. The handle 6 may, however, be temporarily clipped to the standard by part 7 In another form, I may provide a box or cabinet having base 17 provided with 10- phone base 1. Sides 20 support the top 21. Between top and bottom of the cabinet I provide a partition 22 which forms a compartment for the telephone directory.

A front 23 is preferably hinged to the bottom 17 as 2d, and to the sides by hinged stops On one of the side walls 20 I provide a fixture 26 having spaced apart sides, each of which is adapted to receive a part of the wire 27 bent upon itself to form a loop 28 depending below the fixture 26. This fim ture forms a bearing for that part of the wire 27 on each side of the loop 28. The other end of the wire carries an antiseptic container 12 of the type above described.

ill)

inserted in the cabinet therethrough.

A lever 29 attached to hinged stop and loop 28 elevates or lowers the container 12 as the drop front is'raised or lowered.

It will be obvious that while the telephone is occupying the cabinet with its base in the recess in the locating block, when the drop front is raised, thus closing the cabinet, the antiseptic container is lowered in front of the mouthpieceand sterilization thereof will take place. Vhen, however, it is desired to use the phone, upon lowering the drop front, the mechanism will raise the containerlQ out of proximity to the mouthpiece and the phone may be pulled out on to the front 23 for usei In order that such cabinets may beinstalled without disconnecting the lead wire of the phone, I provide the back 30 with an aperture 31 large enough for the phone to be This aperture is closed by a swinging slide 32, leaving a slight opening 33 through which the lead wire may pass.

In another form, the cabinet may be pro vided with doors opening to the side such as at 3e and 35. To one of these doors 35 I attach a fixture 36 to which is connected 2. link '25 which operates in the above described 1. In combination a telephone cabinet, a. movable door closing the front of said cab met, a telephone within the cabinet, an

antiseptic container suspended within the cabinet, means to raise and lower the contamer when the. door is opened and closed respectively, said means compr sing a-mechanical connection with the said door, the

point of rest of the container when the door is closed being fixed, and a locating member within the cabinet guiding andlocatingthe telephone so that the mouthpiece thereof is in close'proxin'nty with the container when the door is closed.

2. In con'ibination a telephone cabinet, a

door closing the front thereof, a telephone thereto at one end, said lever being pivotally mounted in a fixture secnred to said side wall,' the other end of said lever being attached to an arm'mechanically attached to said door, movement ofsaid door in opening and closing 'the same, causing, through the 1 lever and arm, movement of the container to a point remote from and in proximity to the telephone mouthpiece respectively.

In testimony whereof, I afliii my signature.

CHARLES BLAINE KINKEAD; 

